Cora Mae Tipton is determined to light up her Appalachian community in this historical fiction novel from an award-winning author and former librarian.
Itโs 1937 and the government is pushing to bring electricity to the mountains of southeastern Kentucky. Itโs all Cora can think of; radios with news from around the world, machines that keep food cold, lightbulbs by which to read at night! Cora figures she can help spread the word by starting a school newspaper and convincing her neighbors to support the Rural Electrification Act.
But resistance to change isnโt easy to overcome, especially when it starts at home. Coraโs mother is a fierce opponent of electrification. She argues that protecting the landscape of the hollerโthe trees, the streams, the land that provides for their way of lifeโis their responsibility. But Cora just canโt let go of wanting more.
Lyrical, literary, and deeply heartfelt, this debut novel from an award-winning author-librarian speaks to family, friendship, and loss through the spirited perspective of a girl eager for an electrified existence, but most of all, the light of her motherโs love and acceptance.
Back matter includes an Authorโs Note; further information on the Rural Electrification Act, the herbs and plants of Appalachia, the Pack Horse Library Project, and more; and a โQuick Questionsโ historical trivia section for readers.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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